Peterborough Petes Fall to Kingston In Final Home Game of the Season

The Peterborough Petes end their last home game of the season with a 6-2 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

Before the game, the Petes honoured overagers Brady Stonehouse, Gavin Bryant, and captain Jonathan Melee. They were presented with a gift ahead of their last game as a Pete on home ice.

After allowing a goal from Kingston in the first period, the Petes saw them score just over six minutes into the second period, thanks to Maleek McGowan, for a 2-0 game. Peterborough found the scoresheet on a four-on-three powerplay as Melee one-timed a shot from the faceoff dot for a 2-1 score. Just 50 seconds later, the Petes tied things up as Melee tried a cross-ice pass that was deflected. It ended up on the stick of Braydon McCallum who backhanded it in on tight quarters for a 2-2 game. Unfortunately for Peterborough, they allowed two goals with 68 seconds remaining in the period and found themselves down 4-2 at the end of two stanzas.

Peterborough could only muster seven shots in the third period and failed to find the back of the net on any of them as Kingston tacked on two more goals for a final score of 6-2.

The Petes have two more road games to close their regular season but have already been eliminated from playoff contention. They will take on the Brampton Steelheads at the CAA Centre on Friday night. The team travels to the nation’s capital to play their last game of the season against the Oshawa Generals on Sunday night.

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City of Peterborough Closes Temporary Emergency Shelter

The City of Peterborough closed its temporary emergency shelter that had 30 beds and was operated by Brock Mission on Friday morning.

There are 127 beds in the City’s emergency shelter network plus the Trinity Community Centre overnight program, which includes Brock Mission, Cameron House, YES emergency shelter for youth and families, and Trinity. Photo by David Tuan bui.

The shelter had opened on Monday and operated from 9:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. daily during that period. Meant as a temporary, short-term use, it, offered 30 beds nightly

Two people used the temporary shelter on Tuesday night and five people on Wednesday night as reported by the City.

The emergency shelter was opened to provide additional beds in the City’s shelter network.

Those experiencing homelessness who contacted emergency shelters or Social Services to access shelter beds were referred to the temporary shelter starting Monday if beds were unavailable in the regular shelter network.

The City recognized an identified need for shelter beds at this time.

The City arranged to temporarily provide the additional 30 shelter beds at the Morrow Building over five days within the approved homelessness services budget. Providing the temporary shelter bed increase was dependent on the ability to provide the necessary shelter staffing to operate the service over the defined period.

City Council did not support a motion to open a new temporary homeless shelter last month. The motion considered by Council on Feb. 3 would have directed the opening of new temporary shelter spaces for the winter months, which would have been for approximately seven weeks, by increasing the homelessness services budget by $150,000.

They continue to add that opening a temporary shelter for an approximately seven-week period was potentially not possible, as arranging for specialized shelter staffing and other logistics for the service for that amount of time may not have been possible. Council did not support that direction.

They explain that exceeding the Council-approved budget, going beyond staff’s delegated authority for procuring services, or substantially changing service levels would require Council approval. A temporary increase to the shelter network over a five-day period that can be accommodated within the Council-approved homelessness services budget does not exceed that threshold.

A report on the Emergency Winter Response Plan, which was approved by Council in 2023, is anticipated to be presented to Council in the summer.

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Innovation Cluster-Peterborough & the Kawarthas Unveils New Brand and Dynamic Programs to Bolster Canadian Innovation Leadership

Innovation Cluster - Peterborough and the Kawarthas has unveiled its new brand that reflects its updated strategy to focus on the unique needs of technology-based small and medium enterprises in Peterborough and the surrounding area, announced on Thursday morning.

Innovation Cluster Peterborough Nicole Stephenson, Innovation Cluster Board chair(left) and Christine Crandell, Innovation Cluster Board Vice Chair (right), showcase the organization’s new logo as part of a new branding and dynamic programs to help boost Canadian innovation leadership. Photo by David Tuan bui.

The new brand visually reinforces the organization’s mission to support entrepreneurs in reaching their business goals and growing our local community, job market, and economy according to said Nicole Stephenson, Innovation Cluster Board Chair. She also adds that branding represents the Innovation Cluster’s commitment to providing dynamic programming to meet key challenges SMEs face in commercializing and scaling their technology innovations.

“As our organization is evolving, we realize that public perception has not kept pace,” she explained. “This rebranding and new programming underscore our focus on regional economic development, job creation, and supporting technology SMEs to drive Canadian innovation forward.”

New signage of the rebranding is displayed on the first floor and the exterior of the Venture North Building in Peterborough.

According to Innovation Cluster, the logo is inspired by the convergence of three key critical success factors, represented by green, red and yellow arrows.

The colours represent the following:

• Green: Acknowledges the Innovation Cluster’s history and represents business acceleration programs.

• Red: Represents mentoring and advising, critical to realizing measurable results.

• Yellow: Represents the skill and knowledge-building programming essential to sustained growth.

• Blue: The green, red, and yellow arrows merge to acknowledge that all are critical to igniting sustainable forward momentum and long-term success.

In addition to the rebranding, Innovation Cluster also announced the launch of new digital-first programming. They cover three areas: skill and knowledge building, mentoring and advising and business acceleration.

• Educational Programming – New workshops, bootcamps, and mastering series programs that build the breadth and depth of skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need

• Mentoring and Advising - Expanded Experts-in-Residence and Business Advisor roster, including new serial entrepreneurs, vertical industry experts and investors

• Business Accelerator Programming – New accelerator programs for specific company growth stages as a complement to current LevelUp and StartUp Visa programs. New dynamic programming supports entrepreneurs as they progress through their commercialization, scaling, rapid growth, maturity, and innovation stages.

“We are problem solvers, and we push ourselves to be better on behalf of our clients, each other, and our community,” said Christine Crandell, Innovation Cluster Board Vice Chair. “We’re excited to embark on this new chapter and continue supporting technology SMEs as they change the world.”

The rebranded website offers programming, events and member resources to enable technology SMEs to accelerate their growth and market success.

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Peterborough & the Kawarthas Home Builders Association Launch Women In Trades Programs

The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Home Builders Association (PKHBA) has launched two Women in Trades programs with a networking event at the Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region Lakefield ReStore on Wednesday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan bui.

Roughly 30 women in skilled trades and construction attended as PKHBA marked the occasion by announcing new programs designed to promote and support women in skilled trades and construction.

PKHBA had launched was the Ambassador Program in partnership with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPR), Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNC) and Fleming College. Its goal is to encourage more women to pursue careers in skilled trades.

The event had representatives from these school partners speak about the programs available for women in skilled trades:

• Johanne Denley (PVNC) highlighted the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), the Young Women’s Conference hosted by Skills Ontario in Toronto, and partnerships such as Junior Achievement for FemSTEAM programs.

• Danielle Moher (KPR) discussed the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs, teacher and guidance training to support students interested in trades, the new Grade 9 Tech curriculum, and opportunities for high school students to gain hands-on experience at job sites.

• Mary MacLeod (Fleming College) spoke about the Building Bridges, dual credit programs and the college’s partnerships with local schools. She noted that over 1,400 high school students had the opportunity to work with tools—some for the first time—sparking an interest in hands-on careers.

The Mentorship Program was also launched as it provides women in construction with guidance and support from experienced industry leaders within the PKHBA membership. It covers four key topics: entrepreneurship, workplace culture, systems and processes and sales and marketing.

“The power of women supporting each other is unmatched,” said Andria Cowan, ACM Designs owner and PKHBA Women in Trades Committee Chair. “By coming together, we can create positive change, open new doors, and inspire future generations of women to explore rewarding careers in the skilled trades.”

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Spring Cleanup Underway Throughout City of Peterborough

With the melting snow uncovering litter in City parks and along streets and sidewalks, spring cleanup is underway throughout the City of Peterborough.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

With the volume of litter, the City expects the cleanup effort to extend over the next few weeks.

Public Works will use street sweeping machines on routes throughout the City to clean the grit and dirt that accumulates on streets over the winter.

The City maintains 388 garbage bins spanning over 100 parks and along the City’s trail system year-round. In 2024, crews collected just over 333 tonnes of garbage from those receptacles, a 41 per cent increase over 2023 according to the City.

They also maintains 325 garbage bins along City streets and outside City buildings.

Last year, Public Works crews collected 80 tonnes of illegally dumped waste, this includes large items and garbage bags full of waste, five tonnes of litter that includes smaller items such as wrappers, bottles, and coffee cups. Clean Up Peterborough, a volunteer group which organized several litter clean-ups last year collected more than 50,000 cigarette butts from City streets, roads, trails and paths.

Litter composition was made up of:

• 34 per cent recyclables (bottles, bags, food packaging, etc.)

• 32 per cent cigarette butts or other smoking paraphernalia (vapes, etc.)

• 25 per cent organics (food waste)

• 5 per cent textiles (clothes, towels, etc.)

• 4 per cent hazardous waste (pet waste, sharp objects, etc.)

Litter can harm local wildlife and pollute waterways; accumulated litter can attract pests.

Residents are encouraged to do their part by disposing of waste in appropriate receptacles.

Crews regularly maintain the City’s 713 garbage receptacles; however, if a garbage receptacle is complete, residents can report it using its online reporting portal.

The City also implements a street sweeping program to protect the environment by removing pollutants from road surfaces and reducing urban runoff through the stormwater system to downstream water bodies. Street sweeping also improves the cleanliness and aesthetics of City streets and parking lots by removing residual salt and sand used during winter operations.

City street sweepers will clean all 958 lane km of roadway and all City-owned sidewalks, trails and parking lots between March and May once temperatures are continuously above freezing. Many areas receive a secondary sweep as required based on the amount of residue on the surface. The City says work typically takes seven weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions.

Each year, crews start street sweeping in a different area of the City. This year, crews are starting in the downtown core.

Residents are asked to keep streets clear to improve the overall effectiveness of the street-sweeping program. Residents can ensure sweeping equipment can reach the full street surface by removing sports nets, placing garbage and recycling containers on the lawn or driveway and not parking on the street.

When approaching street-sweeping vehicles, please proceed cautiously and allow plenty of room for safe operations.

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Peterborough Petes Call Up Two Players Ahead of the Team's Final Regular Season Home Game

The Peterborough Petes have called up forward Joseph Cadorin from the Pickering Panthers of the OJHL and defenceman Marcus Sulug from the Burlington Eagles U18s ahead of the team’s final home game.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Both players are expected to be in the lineup against the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday night.

Cadorin, a native of Kleinburg, Ont. was initially selected by the Petes in the fourth round, 76th overall, in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. This season, he played one game for the Petes, before playing in 39 games for the Pickering Panthers of the OJHL where he scored 16 goals and added 21 assists for 37 points. He also featured in five playoff games for the Panthers, picking up four points. Last season, Cadorin played 52 games for the Petes, scoring once and adding an assist. He will wear number 24 for Peterborough.

“Joe has had a good year with Pickering in the OJHL,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “His coaches spoke very highly of him and his development throughout the season.”

Sulug, a defenceman from Stoney Creek, Ont. was drafted by the Petes in the 10th round, 185th overall, in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection out of the Niagara North Stars program. In 2023-24, he played for the North Stars U16 team, picking up five assists in 33 games and another two in eight playoff games. This season, Sulug featured in 21 games for the Burlington Eagles U18s, picking up six assists. He also made his GOJHL debut this season, playing in one game for the St. Catharines Falcons. Sulug will wear number two for the Petes.

“Marcus has made a positive impression with the Burlington U18s this season,”said Oke. “He is expected to be in the lineup tonight and will get his first opportunity to play in the OHL.”

The Petes play their final home game this Thursday as they host the Frontenacs at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Peterborough Jr. A Lakers Hire Homegrown Talent As New Assistant Coach

The Peterborough Jr. A Lakers have hired Dustin Dunn as the team’s new assistant coach, taking over the role of Turner Evans, announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers

Dunn joins returning staff such as head coach Robert Hope and assistants Jeff Ralph, Curtis Conley and Taylor Evans.

Turner stepped away from coaching to focus on his young family as his family recently welcomed their third child, alongside work and lacrosse commitments.

The Peterborough native is a product of the hometown’s minor lacrosse system, including a five-year career with the Jr. A Lakers with a Minto Cup victory in 2006 and a selection to the Jr A All-Star team in 2009. His collegiate career consisted of NCAA’s SUNY Potsdam Bears and in CUFLA with the Brock University Badgers.

His professional career saw him drafted by the National Lacrosse League’s Buffalo Bandits and played for the Toronto Rock. He also played in the Major Series Lacrosse with the Brooklin L.C. and Nanaimo Timbermen in the Western Lacrosse League.

Dunn returned to the Peterborough lacrosse scene in 2019, coaching the U13 Peterborough minor lacrosse team to a provincial bronze medal. Most recently, he led the U17 Clarington Green Gaels to an ‘A’ gold medal at the 2024 Ontario Summer Games, with a roster of half of its players from Peterborough due to lacking a local team in that age group. Lacrosse Canada named Dunn their technical/national development teams coordinator earlier this year.

“I’m incredibly excited to join the Lakers as an assistant coach,” said Dunn. “This organization and this city mean so much to me. I grew up in this system, won a Minto Cup here, and now I get to help guide the next generation of Jr A Lakers. It’s an honour to work alongside this coaching staff and contribute to the team’s success.”

“Dustin is a fantastic addition to our staff,” said Hope. “His experience as a player at the highest levels and his proven track record as a coach make him a perfect fit for this team. He understands what it takes to win in Peterborough and I’m confident he’ll bring a fresh perspective and energy to our group.”

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18 Special Olympic Athletes Medal In First Swim Meet of the Season

The Peterborough Special Olympic Swim team saw 18 members medal in their first official swim meet this year in Pickering on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Special Olympics.

They competed in the Special Olympic Swim Team DIVE into the 2025 Durham Swim Meet.

Along with the 18 swimmers who finished in the top three of their respective events, several also achieved their personal bests.

The following are the medalling swimmers:

Lisa Butler:

• 1st place – 50-metre Butterfly

• 1st place – 100-metre Butterfly

• 1st place – 100-metre Freestyle

• 1st place – 200-metre freestyle

Steve Caban:

• 1st place– 100-metre Backstroke

• 1st place - 100-metre Freestyle

• 1st place - 100-metre Breast

• 1st place – 100-metre I.M.

Danielle Clarkson-Bulgar:

• 1st place – 25-metre Freestyle

• 2nd place – 25-metre Backstroke

• 3rd place – 50-metre Freestyle

Crystal Cochrane:

• 1st place – 25-metre Backstroke

• 3rd place – 25-metre Freestyle

• 3rd place – 50-metre Backstroke

Mark Crowder:

• 1st place – 25-metre Freestyle

• 1st place – 50-metre Backstroke

• 2nd place – 25-metre Backstroke

• 3rd place – 50-metre Freestyle

Jasmine Davis:

• 1st place – 50-metre Backstroke

• 2nd place – 25-metre Backstroke

• 2nd place – 50-metre Freestyle

Nick Gardiner:

• 1st place – 25-metre Butterfly

• 2nd place – 25-metre Freestyle

• 2nd place – 50-metre Freestyle

• 3rd place – 25-metre Backstroke

Hannah Goode:

• 2nd place – 25-metre Backcrawl

• 2nd place – 50-metre Backcrawl

Meagan Glaeser:

• 1st place – 50-metre Freestyle

• 2nd place – 50-metre Backcrawl

Nicole Hewitt:

• 1st place – 50-metre Backstroke

• 2nd place – 25-metre Freestyle

• 3rd place – 50-metre Freestyle

Carly Hopkinson:

• 1st place – 25-metre Backstroke

• 2nd place – 25-metre Freestyle

Mercedes Laking:

• 1st place – 25-metre Butterfly

• 2nd place – 100-metre Backstroke

• 2nd place – 100-metre Breaststroke

Breanne Mackenzie:

• 3rd place – 25-metre Freestyle

• 3rd place – 25-metre Backstroke

• 3rd place – 50-metre Backstroke

Gillian McHugh:

• 1st place – 25-metre Freestyle

• 1st place – 100-metre Freestyle

• 2nd place – 25-metre Butterfly

• 2nd place – 50-metre Backstroke

Miriam McHugh:

• 1st place – 25-metre Backstroke

• 1st place – 50-metre Backstroke

• 2nd place – 25-metre Freestyle

• 3rd place – 100-metre Backstroke

Kacee Quinlan:

• 1st place – 25-metre Fly

• 1st place – 50-metre Freestyle

Tessa Scates:

• 1st place – 200-metre Freestyle

• 2nd place – 100-metre Freestyle

• 2nd place – 50-metre Freestyle

• 3rd place – 50-metre Backstroke

Dominic Wichmann:

• 1st place – 25-metre Backstroke

• 1st place – 50-metre Freestyle

• 2nd place – 50-metre Backstroke

• 2nd place – 25-metre Freestyle

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Starter Company Plus Applications Open For Entrepreneurs to Help Launch and Grow Their Businesses

The Business Advisory Centre have opened applications for the upcoming Starter Company Plus program cohort that offers entrepreneurs essential tools, mentorship and funding to help grow and launch their businesses.

Photo courtesy of Kayla Le Franc and Community Futures Peterborough

“Starter Company Plus is more than just a program—it’s a transformative experience that reshapes the trajectory of the entrepreneur’s journey,” said Rosalea Terry, Business Advisory Centre manager. “By combining expert-led programming, valuable connections, a supportive cohort of like-minded individuals, and funding opportunities, we empower entrepreneurs with the resources they need to build and scale their businesses with confidence. This program is about more than financial support; it’s about equipping business owners with the tools, knowledge, and network to create lasting success.”

Participants will receive guidance from a seasoned business advisor who will help refine their strategies, build strong financial foundations and develop effective marketing campaigns according to a press release. The program also provides valuable networking opportunities, connecting entrepreneurs with experienced mentors and like-minded peers who have successfully started, expanded, or acquired small businesses.

“The Starter Company Plus program is essential for those looking to become entrepreneurs,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “By providing training, mentoring, and guidance, as well as grants, this initiative will equip individuals with the support they need to grow their businesses, opening up new avenues to transform their ventures into successful enterprises.”

Each entrepreneur will receive a six-month trial membership with the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce for networking opportunities, business advocacy and access to exclusive events. They will also receive a conditionally pre-approved microloan from Community Futures Peterborough.

“Supporting local entrepreneurs is essential for fostering innovation and economic growth in our region,” said Devon Girard, Community Futures Peterborough executive director. “Our first cohort of 21 businesses successfully completed the program with rave reviews and inspiring success stories, proving just how impactful Starter Company Plus can be for businesses. By providing entrepreneurs with expert-led programming, valuable connections, and access to funding, this program is truly transforming businesses and shaping the future of our local economy. We can't wait to see what the next cohort will accomplish."

Eligible applicants must be 18 years or older, based in the City or County of Peterborough and ready to launch a new business or expand an existing one.

Applications can be found online. The deadline to apply is April 2 at 11:59 p.m.

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City of Peterborough Opens Registration For Spring and Summer Recreation Programs

The City of Peterborough has opened registration for spring and summer recreation programs this week.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Programs include instructional sports, youth programs, older adult leisure programs and fitness and health programming. Most programs start during the first week of April and vary from four to 12 weeks.

Public registration for spring and summer programming and Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre members are open.

The City offers several fitness programs at Miskin Law Community Complex to support all ages and fitness levels.

Programs include Gentle Mobility and Stretch, Qigong, Chair Fitness, Baby & Me Bootcamp, Zumba Kids and Hatha Flow Yoga and Stretch & Strength.

The Miskin Law Community Complex will continue to host drop-in skating during the spring and summer months.

Registration can be done online. Registration can also be done in person at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr. or over the phone at 705-742-0050 ext. 2201.

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